Joseph Duncan was all set to commit his crimes in northwestern Montana, with different children as his victims, before he changed his mind, drove to Idaho and targeted the Groene family. The convicted child-rapist went so far as to set up a remote campsite in Flathead National Forest near Stryker, Mont., with children's toys and a tall tripod for a video camera, according to evidence presented in court Monday in Duncan's death penalty sentencing trial. He cased numerous homes with small children about 100 miles to the south, even contacting children at one isolated home.

That story emerged as 13 witnesses testified Monday in Duncan's sentencing trial, which is speeding along as Duncan, who is representing himself, continues to raise no objection to evidence against him and to ask only an occasional, odd question of the witnesses on cross-examination. FBI Special Agent Steve Liss, of Kalispell, Mont., said he spoke with the occupants of one home near Arlee, Mont., that had been marked as a "way point" on Duncan's Global Positioning System. They said one or more of their children "had contact in May 2005 with an individual in a red Jeep Grand Cherokee," Liss said under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson. That's the stolen vehicle Duncan drove to North Idaho.

Barbara Hampton, of Lovell, Wyo., whose home also was marked on Duncan's GPS, testified that at that time, her 7-year-old granddaughter and 3-year-old grandson were spending their days at her home, where playground equipment filled the front yard and toys were scattered about. The picture that's emerging is one of a hate-filled, anguished predator who prowled the region for just the right child victims, with elaborate plans for their torture and murder, and then, after fits and starts, carried out all but the final step in his plan in a blood-soaked crime spree. You can read my full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review; testimony resumes this morning at 9 Mountain time.

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